Eagle Cam

[George Sephton]

Hi,
Ive been using EAGLE to create a pcb and Ive decided to start milling it instead of etching it. Ive done all the necessary stuff setting up the design rules to coincide with my CAD machine.
But I was wondering how do I create a CAD job, my machine is a Roland mdx-500, the list doesn't seem to have it on there, but I need to create the file, take it to school and set the job on the machine at school.

Has anyone used the mdx-500 before or knows what I should do?

Cheers,
George.

 

[MBrej]

hey, cant you just export the pcb design as a standard file format like .dxf, or gerber which i think is the industry standard for pcbs, and open the software which came with the miller, like some sort of spooling software, and get it to open the file?

Matt

 

[George Sephton]

I guess that would work but how do you do it? It wants a device and I think it wants to output the job right away.

 

[moxhamj]

Have you got a gerber/drill file etc? www.instructables.com/id/Professional-PCBs-almost-cheaper-than-making- them-/

The gerber created by this method is enough for a PCB manufacturer to make a PCB without sending the original schematic/pcb layout so all the information should be there in the industry standard format to mill it.

 

[MBrej]

I guess that would work but how do you do it? It wants a device and I think it wants to output the job right away.

Under the devices drop down list, there are various entries for gerber such 'Gerber' and 'GBRDRL' so you dont actually have to set a device

 

[Technical]

The best software for driving a variety of Roland machines on a PCB gerber import that we know of is the software from Galaad

http://www.galaad.net/pcb-eng.html

You require the Kay/Lancelot/Percival option. This will then import the gerber files (tracks), work out the isolation routes (ie the two thin lines either side of the normal gerber track) and then control the machine directly. You can't just mill a gerber file, as you would get tracks made of nothing surrounded by copper!


http://www.galaad.net/prices-eng.html

 

[George Sephton]

The best software for driving a variety of Roland machines on a PCB gerber import that we know of is the software from Galaad

http://www.galaad.net/pcb-eng.html

You require the Kay/Lancelot/Percival option. This will then import the gerber files (tracks), work out the isolation routes (ie the two thin lines either side of the normal gerber track) and then control the machine directly. You can't just mill a gerber file, as you would get tracks made of nothing surrounded by copper!


http://www.galaad.net/prices-eng.html

Kl, Ive got Galaad and it's great but I export it as a Gerber_RS274X but when I open it in Percival it only shows pads and vias (I think) or maybe just the wholes, how come the wires aren't there?

George.